I realized I was in a Midlife Crisis at 52 years old. This seems a bit late from my research but after much reflection I feel I’ve been in a long, drawn out crisis for a while now.
Yet with a major life overhaul and a change in mindset, I can truly say I’m free of this terrible dark cloud that has been looming for a decade.
Table of Contents
Reflecting on My Midlife Crisis
I Thought It Was the Divorce
Let’s go back a decade, before the end of my midlife crisis, when I didn’t know I was in a crisis.
My divorce was final in 2015, I was 43 and ready to restart life – just me, my teen kids and my dog. At that time I truly believed I was past the whole “crisis thing“.
In my late 30s I felt the classic symptoms of a midlife crisis -dissatisfaction with my life, questioning my purpose, a strong desire for a life change and even a few body image issues related to getting older. But I brushed all that off to the fact that I was getting a divorce and that was the factor for my angst.
The years after my divorce I was laser focused on succeeded to live life my way. I landed a great job at a start-up and eventually lived as a nomad in my RV after becoming an empty-nester and selling my home.
Life was grand in my late 40s. BUT WAS IT?
In the back of my mind I always had this nagging belief that I was simply avoiding growing up and taking responsibility.
Then I met him.
My Crisis Only Worsened
At 49 I met a man that was fun, maybe too fun. He refused to take responsibility in life for his finances or personal relationships he destroyed. I ignored all this so I could have fun. And it would cost me dearly.
Over the next 4 years he managed to convince me that I too didn’t need responsibility. I ended up broke and almost lost some of my loved ones.
I don’t blame him, I’m a grown adult that let him in to my life.
During these last 4 years with him I showed even more classic signs of being in a midlife crisis like not wanting to take responsibility, at times I was depressed with who I was in life and I became nostalgic for the younger me (that he encouraged me to be.)
I know now that I never truly grew up.
Because of this I now live with my mom, I’m broke and been building my life physiologically and financially from scratch.
But I’m no longer in a Midlife Crisis.
What It Feels Like To Be in a Midlife Crisis
The Beginning of the End of My Midlife Crisis
Just 3 months ago he literally dumped me on my mom’s front porch with a couple of boxes of my belongings.
This is not a good look for a 52 year old woman who has a bachelor’s degree, two adult children, helped run a profitable business with her former husband, owned a home, paid a mortgage and, well, you get the picture.
MUST READ : Dealing with My MIDLIFE CRISIS in My 50s
I was depressed, hopeless, unsure of my future, angry at him and myself, I had gained 30 pounds in the last year, had no job or income and now living with my mom.
In that June moment I know I hit the worst low I’ve hit, in every aspect of my life.
I also know I WILL NEVER BE THERE AGAIN.
How I Got Out of My Midlife Crisis
Putting on My Big Girl Pants
For the next 3 months I literally did a deep dive into my life and why the hell I was here and how did I get this low.
This was when I discovered I had been going through a Midlife Crisis for a decade or more. It was time to grow up, accept facts, get out of the crisis and move on.
My Steps to Breaking Free at 52
At first I took small steps to work on succeeding at anything, things I knew I could do easily like riding my bike or eating more veggies. This gave me confidence and dopamine to begin exploring what steps I could take financially to lift myself out of financial ruin.
I started eating better so I could mentally and physically feel better about myself.
I began making YouTube Videos again and writing here in my blog. This has given me the confidence to create a resume to find a job again.
Then I decided to be kind to myself. This is something I never did before. I was always so hard on myself and focused on my failures. This time I looked at the successes, even if they were small.
Then I got a big break! My friend Steph invited me to stay with her for a few weeks in Colorado to hike.
And I can’t leave out the fact that my mom and her husband have given me a place to stay while I rebuild my life. It was difficult to lean on friends and family as I hit rock bottom but I’m glad they are there.
Books that Can Help Get You Out of Your MLC
- Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, and Opportunity of Midlife https://amzn.to/3TYGy8T
- Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up https://amzn.to/3TwrRcU
- Shine On: How To Grow Awesome Instead of Old (It’s Never Too Late to Shine On) https://amzn.to/3znOObi
- You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life https://amzn.to/47unmoZ
What It Feels Like To End Your Midlife Crisis
I’m still not financially stable and will always want to work on being a better Allie but I gotta say being out of the Midlife Crisis feels like true freedom.
My thoughts are clear and focused on what I want and need. I’m content with my life and proud of who I’m becoming. I’m calm in spirit, mind and body with an optimism for my future. I accept where I am in life at 52 and have no issues with growing older.
It’s like seeing the world through a different lens, one unobscured by distractions of doubt.
Watch the Moment When I Realized I Was at the End of My Midlife Crisis
Thank You for Stopping By!
Hi, I’m Allie—solo traveler, hiker, and midlife reinventor. I share real stories from the road, whether I’m camping beachside in my RV or hiking mountain trails with a heart full of grit and curiosity.
This blog is where I explore what it means to rebuild and chase freedom in your 50s and beyond—because life doesn’t end at midlife, it begins. Let’s wander, grow, and figure it out together.
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